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Rise and shine, Providence!
Before we get into today’s email… I’m excited to share that we quietly launched BaseLocal Business last week, and 400+ businesses have already signed up 🥹 If you own or manage a local business and want to see what the platform’s all about, you can sign up for free in less than five minutes (if you haven’t already).
We launched the platform to make it easier for the community to connect with local businesses in a meaningful way that benefits everyone… and so far it’s going great.
So I just wanted to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for being here and helping us make this newsletter better every day.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Funding tailored to neighborhood needs: Providence announced on January 12 recovery grants for merchant associations hit by the Brown University shooting, with $15,000 awards matched to $45,000 each, supporting Thayer, Wickenden, and Wayland Square businesses — see how funds will be distributed.
Fresh city rankings revealed: Zillow has named Providence the fourth hottest U.S. housing market for 2026, citing expected home value growth and fierce buyer competition, even as single-family prices dipped and demand outpaces supply — see which cities lead 2026.
Stories from the singers: Rhode Island Gay Men’s Chorus holds open auditions today at 7 pm at Temple Beth-EL, after a January 12 session, with members saying a bigger chorus makes music sound better — get dates and location details.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Voices unite in remembrance: Rhode Island’s Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission hosts its annual celebration today at 4 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Providence. Expect remarks from commission members, state and faith leaders, plus music. State Rep. Nathan W. Biah will serve as master of ceremonies. Get all the event details.
Fresh lashes, zero fuss: Mascara quitting by 2 p.m.? At 1010 Studios PVD, a skilled team tailors precise lash sets, from subtle lift to full glam, and actually listens, so you wake up looking like you tried when you didn’t. That’s classic Providence self-care.
Hat situation, handled: Whether you’re braving wind-tunnel sidewalks or chasing a fresh look, Queen of Hearts and Modern Love stocks a rotating stash of Brixton caps, packable brims, and cozy Coal beanies. Locally owned since 2006 and delightfully dog-friendly, this spot has you covered… noggin crowned.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
☕ 43rd Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast @ Rhodes On The Pawtuxet Inc | Monday (1/19) at 7:30 AM – Honor Dr. King with coffee, conversation, and community at the 43rd Annual Scholarship Breakfast from the Ministers Alliance of Rhode Island. It’s a feel-good morning that actually does good, funding local students, reconnecting neighbors, and reminding us why we show up, early, on purpose.
⛰ Geology Rocks Weekend! @ Museum of Natural History and Planetarium | Monday (1/19) at 10:00 AM – At Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, this family weekend digs into mountains, canyons, and cosmic collisions. Expect a geology quest, crafts, paper mountains that decode squiggly maps, activities with museum admission, and a $5 planetarium show that counts as quality time.
🏺 Pottery Workshop @ MoonStone Art Studio | Monday (1/19) at 6:30 PM – Think your walls could pull their weight for once? This hands-on pottery workshop teaches you to hand build hanging wall pockets, perfect for herbs, mail, or the dog’s leash. Clay, conversation, and a little mess, then home with something actually useful.
❤ Nathan Bishop Fundraiser @ Flatbread Co. | Tuesday (1/20) at 5:00 PM – Flatbread is turning pizza into PTO power, with a slice of every pie going to Nathan Bishop, dine-in or takeout. Call it philanthropy with mozzarella, an upgrade from the usual bake sale, and the rare fundraiser where seconds, and maybe thirds, are encouraged.
🌙 Create Crescent Moon Wreaths @ The Rustic Rhode | Wednesday (1/21) at 6:00 PM – Take a breather from errands and make a 12-inch crescent moon wreath at The Rustic Rhode. It is hands-on, low-pressure, and a little glittery, the upgrade your front door, gift closet, or moon-obsessed niece has been waiting for. Glue guns provided, judgment not.
🌿 Marlon “Inphynit” Carey: Poetry and Plants @ C & B Plants and Gifts | Friday (1/23) at 6:00 PM – Think your houseplants have heard it all? Marlon “Inphynit” Carey brings poems among the greenery, a mellow set where the metaphors are lush, the vibes are easy, and the potted audience stays quiet. Unwind, breathe a little deeper, and let language, leaves, and you exhale.
🩰 Grand Kyiv Ballet: Giselle @ The Historic Park Theatre and Event Center | Friday (1/23) at 7:00 PM – If your streaming queue feels like reheated leftovers, treat yourself to Grand Kyiv Ballet’s Giselle. World-class dancers from Ukraine, Italy, Spain, the U.S., and Japan deliver aching romance, ghostly grace, and musical lushness, the kind of beauty that hushes a room, then lingers all week.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Providence report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 34°F – Low: 16°F – Precip: 22%
Snow before 7am, then a chance of snow and patchy fog between 7am and 8am, then patchy fog and a slight chance of snow between 8am and 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. West wind 2 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. West wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 24°F – Low: 9°F – Precip: 1%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. West wind 8 to 12 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 9. West wind 5 to 8 mph.
This house is wild
Tri-level townhouse in College Hill pairs architecture and convenience. Steps to Brown, RISD, hospitals, and neighborhood dining and shops, with easy links to I-95, Amtrak, and TF Green. Cathedral ceilings, skylights, and new Andersen windows pour light into three bedrooms and two and a half baths. Open sightlines frame leafy outlooks for everyday living and entertaining.
Garden level opens to a private, gated garden with members-only access to Benefit Square Park. Upgrades include new heat, central air, roof, exterior paint, and hot water tank. Brick driveway for two plus a detached garage with a versatile loft.
Take a peek inside →
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Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
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